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George tapped on her phone furiously while she pushed the shopping cart across the aisle. Nick was ahead of her, eyeing the shelves for ingredients.
Music played faintly from the loudspeaker as others procured items for their own groceries. Cashiers scanned price tags with tired, deadpan looks of boredom and a child with his mother blew through a paper horn that said 2021.
The mother winced at the loud noise and stared longingly at the red wine bottle on the black conveyor belt.
"So Ace is being really vague about the recipe, since it's sacred so this might take a while." She huffed and rested her chin on her hand.
Nick chuckled. "You've been grilling him about it ever since I took home a batch."
"Hey, those cookies are addicting." George shot back defensively. "Plus his mom couldn't cook them for tonight since she's busy so I figured why not?"
He stretched his arm out and placed a plastic bag of chocolate chips into the cart. "Don't forget that the Bobbsey twins are coming. Will we even have time to bake enough for everybody?"
"If Ace would just reply faster, I guarantee we'll be the first ones there." remarked George. "Jesse's gonna drive my mom, Charlie and Ted to Nancy's later just in time for the ball drop."
Country music echoed through the supermarket, along with the hurried cries of customers desperate to get to places.
"Speaking of Nancy, she was telling me that it could snow tonight. That'll be perfect, huh?" Nick smiled, sticking his hands in his pockets.
"Fitting way to end this terrible year." George snorted, carrying a pack of flour into the shopping cart.
Nick ignored this. Yes, there were some parts of the year he'd like to erase from his head. Particularly becoming a suspect in the murder of Tiffany Hudson, who at the time was his closest confidant. Most especially seeing George die in his arms in a way the two of them would never have predicted.
Let's not forget Odette.
But this year was also when he met Nancy, Bess and Ace who were practically family to him now. This year he met George...fierce, loyal, headstrong, unwavering, beautiful and perfect to him George.
"We should also put some decorations on the list." He suggested, breaking away from his thoughts.
George scoffed at the thought, looking down on her phone again. "Trust me when I say Bess and Nancy already got that down. They keeps sending me pictures of these light up sunglasses and Bess keeps reminding us to wear blue and gold so we'll all have matching outfits with the streamers."
Nick laughed out loud as he hovered over her shoulder to look at the photographs. "That's actually not a bad idea."
"Please don't encourage her." George rolled her eyes but couldn't help but grin when Nick embraced his arms around her waist and softly kissing her on the forehead.
He wrapped his fingers around hers, which clung onto the handles of the cart. Nick unraveled them and lifted her hand up to the ceiling, twirling her around to face him.
The corners of her mouth twisted up and her cheeks flushed pink. Piano chords rung across the room and a woman sang in a smooth and low vibrato. George hooked her arms around his neck and Nick's hands found their way onto her waist as the two of them swayed to the music.
I'll be seeing you...
"So you find someone to kiss at midnight?" He asked gently as they danced alone in the baking aisle.
In all the old familiar places...
"Yeah. It's with this random guy. Apparently he loves me and whatever."
That this heart of mine embraces...
"Sounds like a real sucker this guy." Nick smirked.
"Yup. He's a total idiot." She giggled.
Nick bit his lip and pretended to think for a moment. "Maybe he needs some practice. For later."
George shook her head, beaming fervently. "You're too much, Nickerson."
She leaned in, standing on her tiptoes and closing the distance between them when a scrawny teenager in a blue uniform cleared his threat before them.
"No loitering allowed."
George narrowed her eyes and snatched up the chocolate chips, waving them in the air.
Nick swatted her hand away and smiled apologetically. "We'll head to the front."
Pushing the cart, she dialed Nancy instead. "Maybe she'll get in touch with Ace better." She pointed to Nick with her index finger. "We finish what we started at midnight."
Nick slung his arm around her and she knelt her head against his neck. He kissed her on the forehead.
"I'll be seeing you then."